Jordan Theodore scored seven of his 13 points during a crucial two-minute stretch of the second half, leading Seton Hall to a 63-54 victory over cross-state rival Saint Peter's on Saturday night.
The senior guard was one of four players to reach double figures for the Pirates (5-1), who won for the 16th straight time and 24th in 25 meetings with its fellow New Jersey Catholic institution. Seton Hall leads the series 60-23.
Senior forward Herb Pope paced the Pirates with 16 points and 14 rebounds, his fifth double-double in six games, while sophomore forward Fuquan Edwin had 14 points and Patrick Auda added 12.
The Peacocks (1-4) got 14 points from Chris Prescott and 12 from Karee Ferguson.
Theodore's drive and layup gave the Pirates a 49-46 lead with 5:50 left and his 3-pointer made it 54-48 with 3:46 left. He also tied his career high with 10 assists.
The Peacocks held command for most of the first half. Two free throws by Ferguson started an 11-2 run that put the Peacocks in front 20-11 with 6:14 left.
Edwin hit two 3-pointers in a span of 54 seconds later in the half, keying a stretch when the Pirates made four from long range in four straight possessions to get back within a point, 26-25. The Pirates had made 3 of 31 3-pointers in two previous home games this season but made 6 of 14 behind the arc in the first half.
Theodore's steal and layup gave Seton Hall its first lead of the game at 27-26 with 1:35 left.
Yvon Raymond followed his own miss with 1:11 left and Saint Peter's took a 28-27 lead into intermission.
The Pirates scored six straight points, capped by Pope's rebound basket, in the early stages of the second half to take a 36-32 lead.
The Peacocks drew to within one at 44-43 on a power move from Ferguson with 9:40 left, but Auda converted a conventional three-point play to push the lead back to four at 47-43.
Theodore nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner with 4:28 left that enabled Seton Hall to take a 54-48 lead. Pope had a rebound basket and Theodore a steal and a layup to put the Pirates ahead by double digits at 58-48 with 3:46 left.
